At the top of the list, at least to this beer drinker, is the Halethorpe-based brewery's "preliminary" decision to distribute its beers in cans, including Loose Cannon, Davy Jones' Lager and an Oktoberfest style. The cans' availability has yet to be determined, according to spokeswoman Jenn Ladd.

There's also a planned overhaul of Heavy Seas' line of Mutiny Fleet beers. They will now be known as "Uncharted Waters," and will be influenced by wood. The release schedule, in chronological order, is shaping up this way: Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout (January 2013), Oak Aged Big DIPA (double IPA) (March), Holy Sheet Uber Abbey Ale (May), Great'ER Pumpkin (September) and Yule Tide (November).

The Clipper Fleet beers will also be renamed. Heavy Seas Marzen will be Cutlass Amber, Heavy Seas Pale Ale will be Powder Monkey and Heavy Seas Gold Ale will now just be Gold. Fans of Heavy Seas Classic Lager should stock up while they can, as that beer will be discontinued.

Lastly, Heavy Seas has carved out the release schedule of its seasonal beers. Black Cannon will be offered January-March; the new Riptide White IPA comes April-June; the sweet Red Sky at Night will be offered July-September; and Winter Storm Imperial ESB closes out the year from October-December. The Great Pumpkin (my favorite pumpkin beer this year, by the way) will be sold in the Sunken Sampler packs between August and September.